Floating platform for vessel mooring

ABSTRACT

Floating platform comprising a rigid structure driven into the sea bottom and projecting from the sea surface, and a floating platform freely rotatable and vertically movable with respect to the rigid structure, but restrained thereto in its transverse displacements. The floating platform is of an elongate shape in order to enable a vessel moored thereto to be disposed in accordance with the best strong side wind, the platform being also capable of varying its height relative to the sea surface, in which it can be completely immersed.

United States Patent 1 3,595,196

[72] Inventor Bruno Ritteser References Cited Mil", UNITED STATES PATENTS [2|] Gill 1x 32 1969 3,086,367 4/1963 Foster 9/8 (O.P.) x m] 3,366,088 1/1968 Gibson 9/8 (O.P.) x pa'emed 1 3 440 671 4/1969 s Id 9/8 (0 P) [73] Assign 8,10. Tmpom & okodom S'PA. mu ers Milan, Italy I Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Blix Pri y P 1968 Attorney-Steinberg & Blake [33] Italy [31] 15325Al68 ABSTRACT: Floating platform comprising a rigid structure 1 driven into the sea bottom and projecting from the sea surl54] FLOATING PLATFORM FOR VESSEL MOORING face, and a floating platform freely rotatable and vertically scumsnn'ins movable with respect to the rigid structure, but restrained [52] US. Cl 114/230, thereto in its transverse displacements. The floating platform 9/8 is of an elongate shape in order to enable a vessel moored [5 1] Int. Cl ..B63b 21/00, thereto to be disposed in accordance with the best strong side B63b2l/52 wind, the platform being also capable of varying its height 9/8, P; relative to the sea surface, in which it can be completely im- Fieldol Search mersed.

During vessel mooring to the platform, should the conditions of the wind and sea exert a pressure on the vessel side, or exert a force which has been shown by a series of horizontal arrows parallel to one another in FIGS. 4 and 5, the vessel along with the movable platfonn 9 would rotate about the vertical axis of platform 3 tending to assume the position as shown in FIG. 5, wherein the resistance against the wind and sea force is minimum, thus minimizing the hazards of vessel unmooring from the platform.

It is apparent that the stationary structure of the floating platform has to be so dimensioned as to resist the approaching impact due to the mooring of a loaded tanker, such an impact being dampened by the rolling members 11 which, as above mentioned, are of resilient material. It is also apparent that the level of platform 9 can be easily and continuously suited to the level of the vessel moored thereto.

Thus with the structure of the invention the several posts 1 together with the cylinder 4 and the top wall 3 form a stationary means having an upright axis about which the platfonn 9 is free to turn. The platform 9 together with the parts connected thereto forms a mooring means to which a vessel, such as the vessel 18 may be moored, so that with the invention the mooring means 9 is free to turn about the axis formed by the stationary means. The mooring means 9 is elongated so that the turning axis thereof is situated closer to the right end of the mooring means 9 than the left end thereof, as viewed in FIG. 2. Moreover, the situation of the bitts 16 on the lateral extension of the mooring means 9 enables the ropes 17 to extend from the vessel to the side of the turning axis of the mooring means 9 opposite from that where the vessel is located. Therefore, when the wind acts on the vessel in the manner shown in FIG. 4, the entire structure is free to turn to the position shown in FIG. where the wind blows in the same direction as illustrated in FIG. 4. However, in the position of FIG. 5, the pulling of the ropes 17 on the bitts 16 provides a counterclockwise force, as viewed in FIG, 5, opposing the tendency of the wind to turn the platform means 9 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, so that in this way the vessel and the platform means 9 will automatically assume a stabilized position where the resistance against the wind and the force of the sea is at a minimum, so as to minimize the possibility of unmooring of the vessel from the platform means.

I claim:

1. In a vessel-mooring structure, stationary means having an upright axis, and floating platform means to which a vessel is to be moored, said platform means having an elongated configuration and terminating in a pair of opposed ends, and said stationary means being operatively connected with said platform means between said opposed ends thereof but substantially nearer to one of the said ends than the other for guiding said platform means for free rotary movement about said upright axis while restraining said platform means substantially against movement transversely to said axis, and said platform means coacting with said stationary means for automatically assuming, particularly when a vessel is moored to said platform means, a position where resistance against wind and sea forces is substantially at a minimum, said elongated platform means having on one side of said stationary means an elongated exposed uninterrupted side extending longitudinally between the ends of said platform means and to which a vessel may be moored, said platform means including a lateral extension terminating outwardly beyond said stationary means at a side thereof opposed from the location of said elongated uninterrupted side of said platform means.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said platform means includes bitts situated adjacent the opposed ends of said platform means as well as at an outer end region of said lateral extension of said platform means.

3. In a vessel-mooring structure, stationary means having an upright axis, and floating platform means to which a vessel is to be moored, said platform means having an elongated configuration and terminating in a pair of opposed ends, and said stationary means being operatively connected with said platform means between said opfposed ends thereof but substantially nearer to one of said en s than the other for guiding said platform means for free rotary movement about said upright axis while restraining said platform means substantially against movement transversely to said axis, and said platform means coacting with said stationary means for automatically assuming, particularly when a vessel is moored to said platform means, a position where resistance against wind and sea forces is substantially at a minimum, said stationary means including an outer cylindrical wall having an axis coinciding with said upright axis and said platform means surrounding said outer cylindrical wall of said stationary means and carrying a plurality of shafts parallel to said upright axis, said plurality of shafts supporting for free rotary movement tires which engage said cylindrical wall for providing the free turning of said platform means with respect to said stationary means while restraining said platform means against radial movement with respect to said upright axis and absorbing radial forces. 

1. In a vessel-mooring structure, stationary means having an upright axis, and floating platform means to which a vessel is to be moored, said platform means having an elongated configuration and terminating in a pair of opposed ends, and said stationary means being operatively connected with said platform means between said opposed ends thereof but substantially nearer to one of the said ends than the other for guiding said platform means for free rotary movement about said upright axis while restraining said platform means substantially against movement transversely to said axis, and said platform means coacting with said stationary means for automatically assuming, particularly when a vessel is moored to said platform means, a position where resistance against wind and sea forces is substantially at a minimum, said elongated platform means having on one side of said stationary means an elongated exposed uninterrupted side extending longitudinally between the ends of said platform means and to which a vessel may be moored, said platform means including a lateral extension terminating outwardly beyond said stationary means at a side thereof opposed from the location of said elongated uninterrupted side of said platform means.
 2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said platform means includes bitts situated adjacent the opposed ends of said platform means as well as at an outer end region of said lateral extension of said platform means.
 3. In a vessel-mooring structure, stationary means having an upright axis, and floating platform means to which a vessel is to be moored, said platform means having an elongated configuration and terminating in a pair of opposed ends, and said stationary means being operatively connected with said platform means between said opposed ends thereof but substantially nearer to one of said ends than the other for guiding said platform means for free rotary movement about said upright axis while restraining said platform means substantially against movement transversely to said axis, and said platform means coacting with said stationary means for automatically assuming, particularly when a vessel is moored to said platform means, a position where resistance against wind and sea forces is substantially at a minimum, said stationary means including an outer cylindrical wall having an axis coinciding with said upright axis and said platform means surrounding said outer cylindrical wall of said stationary means and carrying a plurality of shafts parallel to said upright axis, said plurality of shafts supporting for free rotary movement tires which engage said cylindrical wall for providing the free turning of said platform means with respect to said stationary means while restraining said platform means against radial movement with respect to said upright axis and absorbing radial forces. 